Bucharest, 28 May 2025 —CUIB restaurant has officially been awarded the Zero Waste Business Certification, marking a significant milestone in Romania’s hospitality industry. The certification, awarded by Mission Zero Academy (MiZA) and Zero Waste Romania, recognises CUIB’s exceptional commitment to the zero-waste circular economy, with a proven track record of over 90% waste diversion from landfills.
This groundbreaking achievement recognises CUIB as Romania’s first restaurant to meet the rigorous international standards for waste prevention, reduction, and diversion from landfills.
The certification process, conducted over the past two years, was led by an independent third party following a rigorous performance monitoring process.
The restaurant has implemented innovative solutions that set new standards for the industry, including a comprehensive zero waste packaging system for delivery and catering services. CUIB pioneered the use of reusable jars for food delivery during the pandemic, demonstrating that sustainable practices can be maintained even during challenging times.
“CUIB’s achievement goes beyond typical sustainability measures,” says Kaisa Karjalainen, Director at MISA Mission Zero Waste Academy. “Their holistic approach to waste reduction and community engagement represents the future of sustainable hospitality.”
Key achievements include:
- Recovery and redistribution of over 100 tons of food from retailers since 2020, with 10% integration into restaurant menus and the remainder supporting vulnerable communities
- Biodegradable waste is collected separately and composted on-site (implementation of an on-site electric composting system processing up to 4kg of organic waste daily) or redistributed to support local agricultural and social initiatives. The restaurant has pioneered partnerships, including collaborations with Emmaus Iași, to repurpose food waste for animal feed and composting.
- Separate collection of nine different waste streams, including specialized handling of biowaste for composting and animal feed.
- Exceptional waste diversion rate: CUIB has achieved a 94.9% diversion rate, exceeding global benchmarks. Materials are systematically reduced, reused, recycled, composted, or recovered for productive use, with minimal contamination rates below 5%.
- CUIB’s Zero Waste plan, approved at the highest organisational level, includes ongoing employee training, quarterly waste audits, and a dedicated Zero Waste coordinator. Employee involvement ensures the continuous improvement of sustainable practices.
- Innovative packaging solutions: In a bold move to eliminate single-use plastics, CUIB serves takeaway food in reusable jars and compostable materials. Customers are encouraged to return jars for reuse, reflecting the community’s active participation in waste reduction efforts.
- Zero Waste procurement policies: The restaurant’s procurement approach prioritizes eco-friendly and socially responsible products, minimizing environmental impact while supporting ethical practices.
- Community engagement: CUIB hosts regular awareness campaigns, educational workshops, and events like “Disco Soups” to combat food waste and inspire change at the grassroots level.
- Urban gardening: The restaurant maintains a pedagogical garden with 20 species of edible perennial plants, utilizing their own compost for cultivation, closing the loop.
CUIB’s certification process revealed exemplary practices in sustainable operations, from their pioneering packaging solutions using reusable containers and compostable materials to their comprehensive food waste prevention strategy.
A National Milestone
“CUIB’s Zero Waste Certification sets a powerful example for the hospitality industry in Romania and beyond. Their efforts demonstrate that sustainability is not only achievable but also beneficial for the community and the environment,” said Elena Rastei, of Zero Waste Romania.
This certification positions CUIB as a best practice, contributing to Romania’s broader sustainability goals and inspiring other businesses to embrace the Zero Waste circular economy principles.
About CUIB:
CUIB (Centrul Urban de Initiative Bune – Urban Center for Good Initiatives) is Romania’s most sustainable bistro, located in Iași. More than just a restaurant, CUIB is a space-manifesto that encourages and incubates creative ideas, civic spirit, and good vibes. Founded in 2013 by Asociația Mai Bine, this pioneering establishment promotes responsible consumption through seasonal, vegetarian cuisine made from local, sustainable ingredients. CUIB operates as a holistic hub where local artists can showcase and sell their responsibly-created products, embodying ecological principles like slow food and plant-based dining while maximizing positive social impact and minimizing environmental footprint.
About Zero Waste Romania:
Zero Waste România is an independent, non-profit, and non-political organization dedicated to promoting holistic solutions for resource conservation and eliminating waste without relying on landfills or incinerators. The organization drives the transition to a zero-waste circular economy through watchdog activities, while providing expertise, technical support, and solutions to local and national authorities.
About Mission Zero Academy:
The Mission Zero Waste Academy (MiZA), a spin-off of Zero Waste Europe based in Brussels, is a capacity-building hub for municipalities, SMEs, and organizations advancing zero-waste and circular economy strategies. MiZA provides expert training and resources to empower local decision-makers and businesses in implementing sustainable practices.
